Teen Award winners (left to right in center of photo): Lacie Lomenick, Elizabeth Raines, Isabella Lumamba.
The Menifee City Council began its March 4 meeting by recognizing three local high school juniors for their hard work and dedication both in and out of the classroom. The Teen Awards, which started in 2021, honor students for achievements in academics, athletics and community service.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with high school students for the last 15 years here in Menifee and I see all the amazing and wonderful things that our teens are doing in the community and it is only fair that we highlight all those accomplishments,” said Michael Rinehart, who coordinates the program for the City of Menifee.
Lacie Lomenick, an 11th grader at Paloma Valley High School, was recognized as the All-Star Athlete. According to her nomination, she maintains a 4.29 GPA while taking three AP courses and competing in soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. When she was a sophomore, she was the highest-scoring lacrosse player in Southern California.
“My hope is to play either soccer or volleyball in college, but I’m leaning more towards soccer right now,” she said. “Right now I want to play at Utah Tech, but I’m waiting it out. I’m trying to email coaches.”
She plans to stay in the sports world academically too.
“I want to do something either like sports med or kinesiology, just something to keep going with sports and how the body works,” she said.
Lomenick expressed her gratitude for the award.
“It means so much to get recognized for all the work I try to put out,” she said.
Elizabeth Raines, also an 11th grader at Paloma Valley High, was honored in the Inspiring Academic category. Her nomination highlighted a GPA above 4.0 and three AP courses. Outside the classroom, she competes in varsity tennis, participates in mock trial, writes for the Paloma Press, and has spent 13 years in the Girl Scouts.
Her plan for after high school is clear.
“I plan to go to a four-year and then my ultimate goal is to be a lawyer,” she said.
She’s currently looking at UC’s and is hoping for either UCLA or USC. She plans to major in political science before heading to law school.
“This award means so much to me because I do work so hard and especially for academics,” Raines said. “It feels so nice to have my work recognized.”
With a full schedule, she said balancing her time and managing her workload “really helped a lot.”
Isabelle Marie Lumamba, an 11th grader at Santa Rosa Academy, was named Outstanding Citizen for her leadership and service in the community, including her work with youth ministry and her church.
When asked about her plans after high school, she said college is the goal.
“I do plan on going to college,” she said. “It’s undecided which one, but wherever God takes me. I do have a passion for science.”
Lumamba reflected on what the Outstanding Citizen award meant to her.
“It’s really a blessing and I’m really glad that I have a lot of people to support me and I thank God for always having all these people around me,” she said. “I’m glad that He has given me all these talents to share with everybody around me and my community.”
Sponsored by the Lake Menifee Women’s Club, each winner received a $100 prize and is now eligible for a $500 Teen of the Year award at the end of the school year. Rinehart said the awards are one way the city makes sure students’ efforts do not go unnoticed.
“Such an inspiring future we have here with our youth at Menifee,” he said. “The schools are just cranking out some incredible leaders, so thank you so much for your dedication.”
